A commercial jet can fly 1342 miles in 5.5 hours with a tailwind but only 1078 miles in 5.5 hours into a headwind. Find the speed of the jet in still air and the speed of the wind.

Answer :

.Explanation

Let the speed of the still wind be V

let the speed of the wind be W

From the first statement

[tex]\begin{gathered} v+w=\frac{1342}{5.5} \\ \end{gathered}[/tex]

From the second statement

[tex]v-w=\frac{1078}{5.5}[/tex]

The value of v and w will be obtained by solving using the elimination method

[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{Adding both equations} \\ v+v+w-w=\frac{1342}{5.5}+\frac{1078}{5.5} \end{gathered}[/tex]

Thus

[tex]\begin{gathered} 2v=\frac{1342+1078}{5.5} \\ \\ 2v=\frac{2420}{5.5} \\ \\ v=\frac{2420}{11} \\ \\ v=220 \end{gathered}[/tex]

Then to get W

[tex]\begin{gathered} v+w=\frac{1342}{5.5} \\ \\ w=\frac{1342}{5.5}-v \\ \\ w=\frac{1342}{5.5}-220 \\ \\ w=24 \end{gathered}[/tex]

Therefore, the speed of the jet in the still air is 220 miles per hour

The speed of the wind is 24 miles per hour

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